Billfold



0. S. ELLIFF Nov. 29, 1966 BILLFOLD Filed Dec. 11, 1964 ORLA S. ELL/FF IN VE N TOR A TTORNE Y United States Patent BHLLFGILD Orla S. Ellilf, Nocona, Tex., assignor to Justin Leather Goods Company, Nocona, Tex., a corporation of Texas Filed Dec. 11, 1964, Ser. No. 417,639 3 Claims. (Cl. 150-36) This invention relates to billfolds and has reference to an expansible construction for accommodating a large number of bills or other flat material.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a sliding lock construction in the ends of a billfold which automatically expand the billfold to accommodate increase of thickness as additional bills or the like are received in the main currency pocket.

Another object of the invention is to provide an expandible billfold construction which will not appear to be distorted when filled to capacity.

Another object is to provide a slidable hinged lock construction for a billfold, and which lock construction is concealed so as to present a neat appearance.

A further object is to provide a secret bill receiving pocket which is in addition to the usual concealed pocket.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the ac companying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a billfold showing that side which is the inside when the billfold is folded. FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the billfold in an expanded and partially closed position.

FIGURE 5 is a greatly enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 55 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to FIGURE 1 showing the construction providing both hidden and secret compartments.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to FIGURE 1 showing the lock construction providing expansion of the main pocket, and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the billfold as appears when fully expanded.

The billfold shown in the drawing is preferably made, primarily, of leather although other flexible materials may be used.

As shown in the drawing, the preferred form of the invention includes an outer or main panel 10 having inwardly turned tabs 11 on its ends for slidable engagement in transverse slots 12 in inner surfaces 13 of end pockets 14, the latter being formed of single flat patterns folded on themselves and secured along their bottom free edges to an upturned told 15 running the length of the main panel. The fold 15 is cemented at 16, to the inner surface of the main panel 10 as shown in FIGURE 5. There are tabs 17 integral with the outer ends of end pocket inner surfaces 13, and which tabs are folded back and received in slots 18 in the outer surfaces of the pockets 14. Preferably, the tabs 17 are cemented in place, but by reason of notches 19 in their sides engaging the ends of the slots 18, such cementing may be eliminated.

A feature of the invention has to do with a slidable hinged construction, best shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, and which feature includes upper and lower laterally projecting locking tongues 20 and 21 on the free ends of the tabs 11. When the billfold is in its flat position, FIGURE 7, the upper tongues 20 are spaced from the upper ends of the slots 12 in which the tabs 11 are recei ed. The lower tongues 21 are always adjacent the "ice lower ends of the slots 12. When the billfold is expanded, FIGURE 8, the outward movement of the main panel 10 is limited by engagement of the upper tongues 20 with the upper ends of the slots 12.

A partition 22 of relatively thick leather or the like is received between the main panel it and the inner surfaces 13 of the end pockets l4, and which panel extends nearly the full length of the billfold, as best shown in FIGURE 6. Projections 23 on the lower edge of the partition 22 are cemented or otherwise secured to the lower edges of the end pockets 1 51. Along the upper edge of the main panel 1i) and folded inwardly there is a flap 24 which normally extends over the partition 22 to provide the main currency receiving pocket 25. To assure the described normal position of the flap 2d, the same is cemented, at 26, along its upper edge to the area along the edge of the main panel 1%. To provide a hinge action, the fiap 24 is scored, at 27, along a line just above the top of the partition 22.

Between the partition 22 and the main panel 1%, and secured at its ends, as by cement, not shown, there is a fabric partition 28 which is normally covered by the flap 24 to provide the so-called usual concealed pocket 29. Additionally, because the upper edge of the fabric partition 23 is free, there is a secret pocket 30 between the fabric partition and the main panel 10. Thus, if desired, the flap 24 may be positioned between the leather partition 22 and the fabric partition 28 to mislead the uninformed as to the presence of the secret pocket 36.

At the center of the upturned fold 15 of the main panel 10 there is an inwardly extending tab 31 which is cemented to the fabric panel 28 for securing the latter at its bottom center.

To complete the main currency receiving pocket 25 there is an auxiliary panel 32 having fabric ends 33 received in the pockets 14. The fabric ends 33 are secured at their ends to the inside ends of the pockets 14, which construction permits sliding action of the center of the auxiliary panel 33.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary con struction herein shown and described, but may be made in various ways within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A billfold provided with a main pocket open along its upper edge, said main pocket being comprised of a main panel and end pockets secured to the lower edge of main panel on opposite sides of the center thereof, said end pockets having inner and outer flat surfaces, tabs on the ends of said main panel slidably received in slots in said inner surfaces of said end pockets, and means limiting the outward slidable movement of said tabs when said main pocket is expanded.

2. A billfold as defined in claim 1 and wherein said means limiting the outward slidable movement of said tabs is comprised of tongues on the ends thereof and extending beyond the ends of said slots receiving said tabs.

3. A billfold as defined in claim 1 and including first and second partitions in said main pocket, said partitions being secured to the bottom of said main pocket along their lower edges, and an inwardly turned flap along the upper edge of said main panel and positioned over said partitions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5, 1 8/1947 Feld 3s X ,982 6/1952 Elliii 15038 FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A BILLFOLD PROVIDED WITH A MAIN POCKET OPEN ALONG ITS UPPER EDGE, SAID MAIN POCKET BEING COMPRISED OF A MAIN PANEL AND END POCKETS SECURED TO THE LOWER EDGE OF MAIN PANEL ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE CENTER THEREOF, SAID END POCKETS HAVING INNER AND OUTER FLAT SURFACES, TABS ON THE ENDS OF SAID MAIN PANEL SLIDABLY RECEIVED IN SLOTS IN SAID INNER SURFACES OF SAID END POCKETS, AND MEANS LIMITING THE OUTWARD SLIDABLE MOVEMENT OF SAID TABS WHEN SAID MAIN POCKET IS EXPANDED. 